Moishe3 From a couple of your comments, ( ie Torah =bible,only a casual acquantance with Judaism), I am not sure you are familiar with Mr Ross' history. As far as I know, Mr Ross first started cult work after a christian group tried to convert his Jewish grandmother.Think he has also worked as a Jewish religious advisor in the prisons.(Sorry not sure of the details, Mr Ross please correct
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

hi yournamedas, Recovery can be difficult.And I don't know what the answers are about finding religion after leaving a group. There are books you can read ( this website lists some), and there are other resources for therapists who can help you work through your experiences. You may find reading or posting on some of the recovery threads to be more focused on issues of recovery, and may
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi Jupiter, it can be really hard leaving a group you were raised in. The love of parents, yet the disagreement with their religion can be a hard one to negotiate. Someone told me that 83 % of kids raised in groups leave when they are adults; getting the sense that something is not right as they get older. Emotionally, time ,outside support ( even something light hearted like a chess group or
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

With regard to how people can be manipulated into such situations.Please remember; there is also a subset of people who were born into religious groups: no choice involved, at least as a child, at all. With regard to whether covert persuasion works( by the way,I like that post Elena, it very thorough) we all know on a very basic level that there are people who are capable of scaming and mani[pu
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Congratulations: I am so happy for you and your family! Yasmin
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Re the Kogi Indian shaman, or Mamas, at least from what I've read ( no personal knowledge) apparently the Shaman training begins in early childhood, for two periods of nine years.They are required to be noctural during training : get trained etc only during the night, and have to cover their heads with a mat during the full moon.Taught dances etc by the light of the fire. Hope this helps, Y
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

That counselor sounds like a good resource , privat eye. Cinderella, if the reverend is not available or does not do telephone consults, I know that Joe Szimhart ( you can find him on the internet) does telephone consults. He is non judgemental and a good listener , with a lot of information. Don't know if he knows about the Jesus Christians or not. You can see a video on the internet of his
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Cinderella: sometimes talking it over with someone knowledgable about groups can help: maybe your sister should talk to an exit counselor? There are exit counselors who will do telephone consults, and are very respectful of peoples feelings and religious beliefs. May help her sort things out.Leaving a group can be hard ( and lonely) I tend to prefer someone who is not pushing their own religiou
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Come on guys: it's Just Googlings turn now? He has been posting on the thread since 2005, longer than Cara or almost anyone else still posting. I doubt whether anyone here is or was Chris Butler.Many walkaways have issues resolving the good and bad. Perhaps supporting each other with mutual respect would be better than trying to make it a one person thread? Just a thought, Yasmin
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Karen, I am very sorry for what you are going through. there is a difference between losing the battle and losing the war, though.Steve Hassans website has some good stuff on how to communicate with a cult member, and so does this one. if you can bring yourself to keep the lines of communication open with your daughter( at least as much as you can), then maybe three or four years down the road,
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Genez, interesting ideas. It seems that a lot of your or Theimes' beliefs are based on the idea that most of what Jesus says actually doesn't apply .Love your neighbour as yourself? Well that doesn't really mean us...we are the new christians. Turn the other cheek? Well that does not really apply to us either...Of course it appears that according to Theime the really old testament
Forum: Destructive Churches

Hi Genez, thank you for that correction: you are right of course re the fact that Pauls' letters etc were written during his lifetime( Duh! Foolish of me!) Of course from most accounts the language Jesus was talking was not Greek but Galilean Aramaic: the language of the common people and the Jews at the time.The sermon on the mount was given in Aramaic, not Greek. And no one was writing
Forum: Destructive Churches

I agree with you Spiritualiberty. Wasn't the bible originally based down by word of mouth for over 200 years? Seems that quibling over single words in the Kione Greek OT is a little questionable. If I remember correctly , Jesus when asked what were the most important two commandments was pretty clear, in Greek, Hebrew and English, that one of them was love your neighbour as yourself. Turni
Forum: Destructive Churches

Not all religion can be classified as dangerous.Many people find great strength from spirituality/religion in one form or another. And generally, if walking down a dark alley and seeing a group of young men walking towards me, I would be relieved to discover they were carrying bibles and coming from a bible discussion group! Religions such as Jonestown and Heavens Gate were horribly destructive
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

ABC,, re posts not showing up: often there is a problem ( for everbody, irrespective of religion) with getting their posts to show up.The moderator will be able to tell you if they stopped it;you could contact rrmoderator/Rick Ross and ask . Generally it seems that the moderator edits/warns the poster and the message board if the message is edited or not posted. For a technical error , try
Forum: Terrorist and Extremist Groups

Hey Kath, sorry things are not going well for you at the moment: hang on in there! Hope you find some better friends soon. Sometimes people have not emotionally matured enough to be able to understand things. Tend to believe that life is easier if you only share personal info with people you already know to be kind and compassionate. Believe that compassion comes with wisdom and experience:
Forum: Former Cult Members and Affected Families

Regarding the actual "technique" of NLP, was recently reading a mainstream pasychology book(the Counseling Primer by Leonard Austin) which states ( page 15) "Cognitve counseling includes the following theories and proponents:Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy,Reality Therapy, Nerolinguistic Programming, Transactional Analysis, Trait-Factor Analysis,Hypnotherapy, CognitiveThera
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Nathan A, in honest answer to the question, could one imagine a cult -type/ or over controlling religious leader saying something like this: Definitely. Don't know anything about the Trinity Group beyond what I have read here, so am not able to give any opinion on the group itself.(and anyway that is something you need to decide for yourself.) However, teaching people that God demands
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi rrmoderator, sorry: you are right ,there are not many resources in New Zealand. Did find a website called "Cultwatch" based in Auckland, New Zealand, but they are also apparently a christian based organization, and have strong doctrinal beliefs. Yasmin
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

rrmoderator, That link comes from an apparently fairly fundamentalist christian group.Islaam and Judaism are listed as "false religions" though they do suggest that being a "Messianic Jew" is okay. Wicca I believe gets a danger warning ( though may have to check again to be sure). Given their strong religious views , am not completely sure they are a non biased resourc
Forum: Recovery from Destructive Cults and Groups

Hi. Based on what I have read ( not an NLPer and don't know anything about Tad James) seems like the timeline idea is the idea that memory can be fluid ( ie we don't remember events perfectly anyway) and that you can therefore use hypnosis to change your personal memories so that they work better for you. Also the idea is that equally you can put into your future something you wan
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Hi Toni, Yes "memoirs" are a tricky one. Started to post and had to edit myself as I found that whole anonymous thing was going out the window..Suffice to say that it would be great to be able to really describe the truth. Having said that there is a whole lot of reasons why I don't do it. Probably the biggest one is that I am not yet sure I can do it compassionately. And actually
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Hi lifeover, Toni gives good advice! ( Hi Toni!).Was raised in a group too, and also love my "in group" family too. The people we love may be group members but they are also our family.Have found that distance from the group gives one a chance to build a life for yourself, and building on the strengths that come from having had a "unique" upbringing.(Hey, having to deal with d
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

i agree .Sometimes I find it hard to not see all religions as cult-like in some ways.Everytime a Christian explains that if you don't follow the bible literally you are going to hell,( or a version thereof) I wince, though I realize that these can be mainstream beliefs, and that most religions require dedication from followers . Then again, everyone has a right to believe what they wish, an
Forum: Destructive Churches

Hi Jennerality: yes it can be very challenging when it is your family and you love them.Kind of sounds like from your post that you really want to move out and just visit for meditation sessions ( or maybe not even that) but are worried about the lessons being harder,and may need family support if the depression gets worse? The first question is has everything the channel said always come true
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Cultmalleus, what a great and compassionate post.I agree it is loving relationships and healing of intergenerational issues that is most important in life.Snuggles; you Muppet (and I) have all, amongst many others, chosen to be anonymous.Perhaps we should respect the right of Dave's children to make that same choice.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Chilloutandrelax, Have never attended an impact session ,and hence have no knowledge at all about it. Am wondering though, as you mentioned you are a therapist:what code of ethics do you rely on ? IE. counselors code of ethics, or marriage and family therapists code etc? Seems like as a graduate of the Impact program, there may be the potential for some kind of ethical conflict in referring
Forum: Large Group Awareness Training, "Human Potential"

Cherenuff, I am very sorry about your daughter. :(
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

Jessica, a philosphical point here:just as people can find spiritual fulfilment through organized religion, perhaps there is also room for people to find fulfilment without needing someone to interpret God for them? perhaps for some people the dissillusionment is part of the spiritual advancement of being able to find out for themselves what they believe?For some people, finding themselves requi
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"

natalone, just wanted to give you my support and respect.You obviously care deeply for your daughter, and are trying to help her in every way possible. personally, am a great believer in "whatever works" and thinking outside the box, so don't think you need to justify anything to anybody.Good luck and hope you get to see your daughter and grandchildren soon.
Forum: "Cults," Sects, and "New Religious Movements"